Bruce Halle facts for kids

Bruce Thomas Halle (born May 27, 1930 – died January 4, 2018) was an American businessman. He is best known for starting Discount Tire, a very successful company that sells tires. At the time of his death, he was the richest person in Arizona. He had an estimated net worth of $5.2 billion.

Early Life and Education

Bruce Halle was born on May 27, 1930, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was the second of seven children. His family later moved to Berlin, New Hampshire.

During the Great Depression, Bruce helped his family earn money. He delivered newspapers, cut grass, and even dug graves. In 1942, his family moved to Detroit, Michigan. His father worked as a security guard there.

In 1950, Bruce joined the United States Marine Corps. He served in the Korean War. After his military service, he settled in Michigan. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1956. He earned a degree in business.

Starting Discount Tire

After college, Bruce Halle worked several jobs. He sold cars and life insurance. He also tried to start a business with a friend. This first business did not succeed and went bankrupt.

In 1960, Bruce borrowed $400. He used this money to open his own tire store. This first store was in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He worked hard to make his business grow.

By 1964, he opened a second store. By 1970, he had seven stores in Michigan. That same year, he expanded his business to Arizona. His company became known as Discount Tire. By 2018, Discount Tire had grown to over 1,000 stores. These stores were located in 28 different states.

By 2014, Bruce Halle was one of the wealthiest people in the world. He was the richest person in Arizona.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

Bruce T. Halle believed in giving back to the community. He created the Bruce T. Halle Family Foundation. This foundation made many donations to different causes.

He supported the Diane Halle Center for Family Justice at Arizona State University. He also helped the Children First Academy. This school is the largest in the country for children experiencing homelessness.

Bruce Halle also donated to many health organizations. These included the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society. He supported groups like the American Red Cross and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

In Arizona, he helped local groups. He supported the Arizona Boys and Girls Clubs. He also helped the Arizona Opera League and the Phoenix Symphony. He was a big supporter of the Phoenix Children's Hospital.

Two libraries are named after him and his wife. The Bruce T. Halle Library is at his old university, Eastern Michigan University. The Diane M. Halle Library is at Endicott College. It is named after his second wife.

Bruce Halle also loved art. He had a large collection of old tire advertisements. He and his second wife, Diane, also collected modern art from Latin America. This collection is in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Personal Life

Bruce Halle married his first wife, Geraldine "Gerry" Konfara Halle, in the late 1940s. They had three children together: Bruce Jr., Susan, and Lisa. Gerry passed away in 1989 from cancer. This was a very difficult time for Bruce.

Ten years later, in 1999, Bruce married his second wife, Diane Meyers Halle. They lived in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Bruce Halle died on January 4, 2018, when he was 87 years old. He was survived by his wife, three children, a brother, and two sisters.

See also

• TBC Corporation